Wheels in the Grass

This 1967 Comet Caliente four-door sedan has been sitting in a fenced-off (or is it fenced-in?) area in the industrial section of the city of Niagara Falls near the river for quite a while now. With a name like Caliente you’d expect it to be some hot car — but you’d be wrong. It was the top-line four door Comet in ’67, above the 202 and Capri, but the “hot” Comet was the Cyclone GT, in coupe or convertible form. Interestingly, going through the brochure, I noticed that the whole line, which are supposedly all Comets, are referred to as Mercury Calientes, Mercury Capris, and Mercury Cyclones; only the 202 and Voyager station wagon are referred to as Comets. Strange. Also strange, and I have to wonder how this went over with female buyers (if there were any), is the year’s slogan, which is sprinkled throughout the brochure: “Mercury, the Man’s Car.” See ya, ladies.